President Robert Mugabe unveiled the statue at his official residence in Harare last Friday and Zimbabweans were not impressed. The
statue, made by a famous Zimbabwean sculptor was widely criticized on
social media, with people questioning the sculptor's motives. Some
even suggested it was a reaction to being forced to make the statues
while many attacked the sculptor accusing him of a poor job. See more photos and tweets below..
However,
Dominic Benhura insisted his statue of the President was not intended
to mock him. The sculptor who has exhibited his work across the world,
told the state-owed Herald newspaper that "honestly, no one would abuse
such an opportunity."
"That
sculpture was never meant to look exactly as the President's image. I
do not do exact figures. This is the style I have mastered. My
collectors can identify my pieces when they see them anywhere in the
world because I chose to be different and that is my signature" Mr
Benhura explains.
